Pakistani army pushing guerrillas into Kashmir: Indian Army

Srinagar, April 25 (IANS) The Indian Army Saturday accused its Pakistani counterparts of pushing guerrillas into the Kashmir Valley. To back their claim, Indian Army officials produced a Pakistani national who had infiltrated into the border state a fortnight back. Saqib Moinullah 25, a resident of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan, said at a press conference here Saturday he had crossed into India through the Gurez sector of the Line of Control (LOC) along with 120 other people, including 31 guerrillas of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit. The rest of the group comprised 40 porters and snow beaters and guides.

“I was motivated for joining the jihad (Holy War) as the people told me there was oppression in Kashmir,” Moinullah said.

“I was imparted training and sent across to join the other militants of the group here.”

However, he said he became disgruntled with the insurgent campaign after crossing into the Valley.

“I went to the house of a civilian and gave him Rs.1,000 to arrange dry fruits etc so that I could cross back into Pakistan.

“The civilian went to the army camp and reported my presence after which I was arrested,” he said.

He disclosed that his organisation had no link with the Taliban, which he said was operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“During my training and subsequent crossing into the Valley, I did not come across any Taliban militants here,” he said.

Brigadier Gurmeet Singh, Brigadier general staff (BGS) of the army’s 15 corps who addressed the media, said the Pakistan army had been facilitating the infiltration of the guerrillas into the Valley.

“Based on intelligence reports, intercepts of conversations and mappings etc, it is clear that the Pakistan army has been aiding and assisting infiltration of terrorists into the Valley,” he said.

He that of the 120-strong group that had crossed into the Valley there were 31 guerrillas of whom 30 had been killed in different gun battles with the security forces while Moinullah was arrested alive.

“The rest of the group comprising porters, snow beaters and guides were forced back into the Pakistani side of the LOC,” the brigadier said.

He also gave details of the arms and ammunition seized from the slain guerrillas during the operation.